EA CXL-112 vs. Aggie GS-112

I own a EA CXL 12L, and I've played through the Aggie 1-12 a few times. The the CXL cab has more of a hi fi tone, but with a punchy ballsey bottom. In contrast, the Aggie has less of a hi fi tone, and more of an old school bottom and slightly warmer mids in my opinion. I somehow get the impression that the Aggie will break up earlier than the CXL. The tones of both cabs are very usable and very attractive. It's just a matter of what your priorities are in tone.

 

Interesting comment about the Aguilar having the old school sound. Yesterday I was playing my fretless Jazz through the EA CxL-112, iAMP350, along with "Just My Imagination" by the Temptations. If that isn't old school... Anyway, my sound was identical. Potential translation: it may be possible to get the old school sound with the EA cabinet as well.

 

My experience with EA is that it puts out what you put in. It doesn't impose it's voice on your tone.

 

great little description!

 

Ive owned both cabs and agree with whats been said so far. I would ad that the EA cab is noticably louder- partly because of the scooped mids of the aggie- but the EA is definitely more effiecient.

 

Arizonabass,

good observation! Your iAMP may have had a lot to do with it. I've been told by both players and dealers that you can get an iAMP head to sound like just about any amp, except maybe an overdriven SVT. This is due to the extremely effective EQ section. That aside, I was just trying to say that, all other factors constant, the Aggie has a slight old school sound and the EA has more of a hi-fi sound. you can get the EA to sound like the aggie if so desired, but probably not vice versa. I must reiterate, however, that both cabs have a very attractive and usable tone. It's a matter of personal taste as to which you prefer. and I must agree with another poster, EA gear does not color the sound of your bass, while many other manufacturers' gear will color the natural tone of your bass (not neccesarily a bad thing though).

One of my recent experiences corrobrated my perceptions. Keep in mind, my tonal preferences lean toward R & B / funk / Marcus Miller tonalities. I have a friend who comes from more of a classic rock old school musical background; he preferred the Ampeg V4B tube amp to the cleaner solid state amps. One day we were in the store trying out the Aggies and he said he liked them because of the nice vintage old school tone he was getting (and using an EBS 350 now). I suggested that he check out the EA cab. Even after I described the wonderful tonal capabilities of the EA cabs, he didn't care... he wanted the aggie tone. So, he went home with the Aggies, and the EA cab went home with me. different strokes for different folks!

 

Another ditto with gfab33.

I own a CXL112 but I use it primarily for my upright (it's a perfect URB cab). However, for electric (especially with the Motown/Classic R&B band I play in)I use a Bag End which has more of the characteristics in the midrange that the Aggie does.I think the Aggie, for my music, is a better electric cab. But, if I had to own only one for doubling purposes it would be the Euphonic....hands down.

 

I just tried my Zon fretted 6 (thru demeter pre)and fretles piezo Acousticore 6 (thru Raven pre) thru each of these powered by Stewart 1.2. The EA CXL 112 sounded harsh in the mids to me. The Aguilar was a great voice for four string but was blurry on the B string. The Bergie HT112 won hands down. It was richer and smoother in the mids and had cleaner highs. But other guys love the other cabs. TBL is you must try your basses thru them.

Tom Halversen